Gravity projected ball game including dislodging member

ABSTRACT

A game of the type having an arcuate track with a rolling member for traversal thereof and a freely suspended weighted member, characterized by the provision of a base on which the arcuate track is located, the base being divided into scoring zones of reduced dimension near the upturned ends of the arcuate track and enlarged dimension near the medial portion thereof, with the object of the game being to attempt to remove the traversing rolling member from the track by means of the freely suspended weighted member.

United States Patent 473,265 4/1892 Reisky.. 1,314,623 9/1919 Wagner '3,204,965

9/1965 Engle Primary Examiner-Anton O. Oechsle Assistant Examiner-Marvin Siskind AttarneyHofgren, Wegner, Allen, Stellman & McCord [54] GRAVITY PROJECTED BALL GAME INCLUDING DISLODGING MEMBER 10 Claims, 4 Drawing Figs.

ABSTRACT: A game of the type having an arcuate track with a rolling member for traversal thereof and a freely suspended weighted member, characterized by the provision of a base on which the arcuate track is located, the base being divided into scoring zones of reduced dimension near the upturned ends of the arcuate track and enlarged dimension near the medial portion thereof, with the object of the game being to attempt to remove the traversing rolling member from the track by means of the freely suspended weighted member.

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SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION This invention is directed, in brief, to the provision of an improved game of the type utilizing a traversing projectile and a pendulumlike striking member.

The best mode currently contemplated by me for carrying out the invention includes the provision of a base member divided into subcompartments with the compartments being smallest at the opposite ends, larger in progression towards the center, and largest in the medial area thereof.

An arcuate tracklike member extends longitudinally of the base intermediate the sidewalls thereof with the upraised opposite ends of the track member being in the area of the smallest oompartments in the base. The track is intended to receive a rolling member, such as a ball or the like.

One end of the base is provided with an upright frame member which supports, in free string suspension, a weighted striking member which, in the at rest position, intersects the path of travel of the ball in the centermost portion of the track. The object of the game is for a player to attempt to dislodge the ball from the track by means of the suspendedweighted member with greater points being awarded for dislodgment in the elevated areas of the arcuate track.

Basically, the game requires coordination and skill in tracking a to and fro rolling member, predicting an intended intersection point, and timing the release of the weighted member in accordance therewith. Thus, visual perception, mental computation and physical coordination are all involved. These skills are of the type required in the exercise of many athletic endeavors and through the use and enjoyment of the game of this invention these skills may be sharpened or maintained for the enjoyment, as well as the benefit, of the participants thereof.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 'ofFlG. 1.

While this invention is susceptible of embodiment in many different fornrs, there is shown in the drawings and will herein be described in detail, a specific embodiment therefor, with the understanding that the present disclosure is to be considered as an exemplification of the principles of the invention and is not intended to limit the invention to the embodiment illustrated.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT The game of this invention includes a base 12 and a bottom 14 and spaced upright sidewalls l6 and 18 joined by spaced upright end walls 20 and 22. As best seen in FIG. 1, preferably the configuration of the base is generally tetrahedonal in plan. As seen in FIG. 4, the bottom 14 may be a wide angle inverted V-shaped configuration. Preferably the base is made of a suitably rigid material such as a rigid plastic or the like.

A central rib 24 generally longitudinally bisects the base extending between end walls 20 and 22. As seen in FIG. 4, in the preferred embodiment, the base 14 slopes downwardly to the sidewalls l6 and 18 away from the central upstanding rib 24. Uprights 26 and 28 extend upwardly from each of the end walls 20 and 22 in the area of the juncture of the rib 24 with the end walls 20 and 22. These uprights support an arcuate track 30 at the elevated ends of the track. Generally the arcuate track is held in registration with the rib 24.

The arcuate track 30 includes opposite upwardly extending curved ends 30a and 30b and a center portion 30c. It is intended that a traversable playing element, such as a ball 32 would be supported by the track for a to and fro rolling or traversing movement between the opposite ends 30a and 30b of the track. A transverse rod 34 spans the underside of track 30 in its medial area 30c and is received in spaced fingers 36 and 38 by residing in grooves 360 and 38a thereof. Fingers 36 and 38 are supported on rib 24 and thereby hold the track 30 relative to the base. In addition, the uprights 26 and 28 may be notched at their upper ends as shown as 26a and 28a to embrace track 30 therein and further stabilize the mounting of the track with respect to the base.

A plurality of generally parallel transverse ribs 40, 42, 44 and 46 extend between the sidewalls I6 and 18 of the base from either side of the central rib 24 providing a plurality of scoring value zones such as 48a, 48b; 50a, 50b; 52a, 52b; 54a, 54b; and 56a, 56b. Suitable indicia such as the indicia 58, 60 and 62 may be provided on the upper surface of bottom 14 in the area of the several scoring value, zones to indicate the value to be received for causing the displacement of the playing piece 32 into one of the zones.

Indicia 58 indicated by the numeral 3 indicates that a value of three points is to be awarded for dislodgment of the playing piece into scoring value zones 48a, 48b; and 56a, 56b which are located at opposite ends of the base. Indicia 60 indicated by the numeral 2 indicates that a value of two points is to be awarded for reception of the playing piece in scoring value zones 50a, 50b and 54a, 54b; located intermediate the far end of the base and the center thereof. Finally, indicia 62 indicated by the numeral 1 signifies that a value of one point is to be awarded for reception of the playing piece in scoring value zone 52a, 52b which is medially of the base and the largest of the zones.

The game further includes an upright support 64 including a pair of upwardly extending legs 66 and 68 which are bent forwardly from the bottom ends 66a and 68a thereof and joined by the crosspiece 70. An arm 72 is secured to crosspiece 70 and extends upwardly therefrom, terminating in a transverse finger 74 having a transversely bent upturned end 76. A suitable supporting stand, such as string 78, is secured at the juncture of finger 74 and upturned end 76 and depends therefrom. String 78 is connected by means of hook 80, to weight member 82. In the normal at rest position, the weight member overlies the central portion 300 of track 30. It is to be understood that the height of weight member 82 relative to track 30 may be adjusted by changing the length of string 78.

In use, the ball 32 is set in rolling to and fro motion and the players take turns attempting to knock the ball from the track into one of the scoring zones by sighting the to and fro rolling movement of the ball and releasing the weighted member 82 for traversal through an intended path which would intersect the ball 32 and hopefully knock the same from the track 30. As mentioned, the string 78 may be shortened so that the weight member 82 is raised relative to track 30 so that there is a lesser portion of weight member 82 which would intersect the path of travel of ball 32. Players may be given turns on a time basis or on a sequential basis and whether scoring is to be accumulated after a limited number of turns or a limited amount of time, in either event, the total points determined from the successful dislodgment of the ball 32 into the different scoring value zones 48a and b, 500 and b, 54a and b, and 56a and b, will determine the total score for each player.

Further, the game can be made more difficult by reversing the position of member 82 on hook 80. As seen particularly in FIG. 2, each of the two ends of weighted member include an opening for engagement with hook 80, and if the member 82 is The foregoing detailed description has been given for clearness of understanding only, and no unnecessary limitations should be understood therefrom as some modifications may be obvious to those skilled in the art.

I claim:

1. A game comprising: a base having an opposed pair of end portions and an opposed pair of side portions, track means on said base extending between one of said pairs of opposed pairs of end and side portions, said track means including portions of different elevation with respect to the base and each other for gravity actuation of a playing piece to be placed thereon; said track means comprising parallel rails at a fixed distance from each other to allow a playing piece to roll thereon; means on said base for mounting a dislodging member; a playing piece dislodging member connected to said mounting means for free swinging movement thereof through paths of travel of a playing piece along said track means; said base including a plurality of compartments defining different scoring areas having difi'erent scoring values.

2. A game comprising an arcuate track formed of parallel rails mounted on a supporting base structure with the opposite ends of the track disposed substantially at the same elevation and with the center portion of the track disposed at a lower level, a ball member for rolling along the track in an oscillating manner under the influence of gravity when positioned on an upper portion of the track and released, a weighted pendulum supported on said base for swinging movement through paths intersecting the path of travel of said ball member along the track, and said base including a plurality of compartments underlying said track and defining scoring areas having different scoring values.

3. The game device of claim 1 wherein the scoring areas in the base are of smaller sizes adjacent portions of the track which are of higher elevation relative to the base.

4. The game device of claim 1 wherein the track means is generally arcuate.

5. The game device of claim 4 wherein the arcuate track means is a generally circular segment having a low area substantially centrally located relative to the base and opposed elevated areas above the opposite ends thereof.

6. The game device of claim 1 wherein the playing piece dislodging member is suspended relative to the base.

7. The game deice of claim 6 wherein the playing piece dislodging member is mounted in a pendulum fashion.

8. The game device of claim 7 wherein the dislodging member mounting means comprise a support connected to one end of the base and overlying the central portion thereof with the dislodging member being freely suspended thereof by strand means.

9. The game device of claim 1 wherein the base includes different scoring zones with scoring zones of smaller size being adjacent portions of the track which are of higher elevation relative to the base and wherein the track means is a generally circular segment having a lower area substantially centrally located relative to the base and opposed elevated areas above the opposite ends thereof.

10. The game device of claim 7 wherein the playing piece dislodging member has an enlarged end and a reduced end with means on the playing piece dislodging member for mounting the same for disposition of either of said enlarged or reduced ends adjacent said track member. 

1. A game comprising: a base having an opposed pair of end portions and an opposed pair of side portions, track means on said base extending between one of said pairs of opposed pairs of end and side portions, said track means including portions of different elevation with respect to the base and each other for gravity actuation of a playing piece to be placed thereon; said track means comprising parallel rails at a fixed distance from each other to allow a playing piece to roll thereon; means on said base for mounting a dislodging member; a playing piece dislodging member connected to said mounting means for free swinging movement thereof through paths of travel of a playing piece along said track means; said base including a plurality of compartments defining different scoring areas having different scoring values.
 2. A game comprising an arcuate track formed of parallel rails mounted on a supporting base structure with the opposite ends of the track disposed substantially at the same elevation and with the center portion of the track disposed at a lower level, a ball member for rolling along the track in an oscillating manner under the influence of gravity when positioned on an upper portion of the track and released, a weighted pendulum supported on said base for swinging movement through paths intersecting the path of travel of said ball member along the track, and said base including a plurality of compartments underlying said track and defining scoring areas having different scoring values.
 3. The game device of claim 1 wherein the scoring areas in the base are of smaller sizes adjacent portions of the track which are of higher elevation relative to the base.
 4. The game device of claim 1 wherein the track means is generally arcuate.
 5. The game device of claim 4 wherein the arcuate track means is a generally circular segment having a low area substantially centrally located relative to the base and opposed elevated areas above the opposite ends thereof.
 6. The game device of claim 1 wherein the playing piece dislodging member is suspended relative to the base.
 7. The game deice of claim 6 wherein the playing piece dislodging member is mounted in a pendulum fashion.
 8. The game device of claim 7 wherein the dislodging member mounting means comprise a support connected to one end of the base and overlying the central portion thereof with the dislodging member being freely suspended thereof by strand means.
 9. The game device of claim 1 wherein the base includes different scoring zones with scoring zones of smaller size being adjacent portions of the track which are of higher elevation relative to the base and wherein the track means is a generally circular segment having a lower area substantially centrally located relative to the base and opposed elevated areas above the opposite ends thereof.
 10. The game device of claim 7 wherein the playing piece dislodging member has an enlarged end and a reduced end with means on the playing piece dislodging member for mounting the same for disposition of either of said enlarged or reduced ends adjacent said track member. 